CAAD Research Articles

Computer-Aided Architectural Design Based on BIM Technology

Computer-Aided Architectural Design Based on BIM Technology

Encapsulating creative collaborations: A case study in the design of cement tiles

Advances in computer-aided architectural design led to an increased interest in the field for cross-disciplinary creative collaborations. However, this process rarely accounts for the agents outside of the discipline’s intellectual framework, such as craftsmen, failing to include existing production capabilities in the digital transformation of the industry. To tackle this issue, we investigate an approach that implements encapsulated instruments as enablers of creative collaborations between computational designers and craftsmen. We evaluate this approach by designing three cement tile models, a traditional handmade construction element used in Brazil. The results demonstrate that encapsulated instruments expand the craft’s design space through creative decisions operated by the craftsman, and interviews with the tile makers elaborate on their perceived change in creative agency, identifying limitations when disrupting social roles and hierarchical relationships in craftsmanship. Results also raise opportunities for expanding this approach at other scales and systems, helping to democratize and distribute design knowledge.

About Some Trends in CAAD Research

Computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) is the driving force that connects architecture, technology, and design [...]

The Construction of Architectural CAD Course Competition Integration Teaching Mode

Architectural Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is a basic course for architectural engineering majors in vocational colleges. The integration of competition into teaching will not only help stimulate the students’ enthusiasm, but also help them improve their professional skills. However, there are still some problems in the teaching of Architectural CAD. Therefore, teachers must continuously optimize the integration of competition content into Architectural CAD classes through various strategies, so as to give full play to the value of competition content in classes. We explored and analyzed the problems in the integration of competition content into Architectural CAD classes, and proposed specific strategies, in hopes of improving the quality of Architectural CAD teaching.

The green granary of the Empire? Insights into olive agroforestry in Sicily (Italy) from the Roman past and the present

Groves with ancient olive trees (Olea europaea L.) could be considered remnants of old agroforestry systems. Anything but static, these agro-ecosystems have undergone drastic transformational processes in Mediterranean countries, where abandonment or intensification have been observed far more than continuity, expansion or renaissance, leading to environmental degradation of rural areas. Starting from this assumption and inspired by historical ecology and historical geography, we consider centuries-old olive trees as living archives of human-nature interactions and are thus proxies of past agroforestry. Our aim is to better understand what has driven dynamics of change and persistence, happening today as well as in the past. We first travel backward in time, looking at the ecology of land management systems during the Roman period (ca 200 BC-400 AD) and late Antiquity (ca AD 400-700). The special focus is the island of Sicily, the granary of the Empire, well known as a region where cereal production increased around the latifundia economy. We reconstruct the diversity of land tenure and the ecology of such complex systems, by combining records from Roman agriculturalists and palaeoenvironmental evidence of the past. We then zoom out, to look at today’s management practices in olive groves, thus drawing a parallel between Antiquity and today. Our work provides valuable insights into the correlation between certain organisation models, ecological strategies and adaptation capacity over the long term, clearly showing that human and nature dimensions are interconnected. Such entanglement may be a key element for ensuring these agroecosystems resilience. All elements that may contribute to the re-invention of sustainable forms of their management, for the present and the future.

Improving Classroom Teaching Quality of Architectural CAD Through the Integration of Competition Content

Architectural Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is a highly technical and practical course and is also a course where its knowledge can be directly applied in the working field, which is especially important for higher vocational students majoring in architecture. In order to improve the teaching quality of this course, this paper proposes the integration of competition content into teaching under the based on the original syllabus. Therefore, the content of the “Reading and Drafting of Construction Drawings” competition is integrated into the teaching of this course, so as to realize the balanced development of teaching and competition, enhance students’ professional skills and practical ability, and help students adapt to the development of the industry. With that, the goal of personnel training in higher vocational colleges can be achieved.

Three decades of machine learning with neural networks in computer-aided architectural design (1990–2021)

Abstract Over the past years, computational methods based on deep learning—that is, machine learning with multilayered neural networks—have become state-of-the-art in main research areas in computer-aided architectural design (CAAD). To understand current trends of CAAD with deep learning, to situate them in a broader historical context, and to identify future research challenges, this article presents a systematic review of publications that apply neural networks to CAAD problems. Research papers employing neural networks were collected, in particular, from CumInCad a major open-access repository of the CAAD community and categorized into different types of research problems. Upon analyzing the distribution of the papers in these categories, namely, the composition of research subjects, data types, and neural network models, this article suggests and discusses several historical and technical trends. Moreover, it identifies that the publications analyzed typically provide limited access to important research components used as part of their deep learning methods. The article points out the importance of sharing training experiments and data, of describing the dataset, dataset parameters, dataset samples, model, learning parameters, and learning results to support reproducibility. It proposes a guideline that aims at increasing the quality and availability of CAAD research with machine learning.

The Monongahela tradition in "real time": Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates.

Despite advances in techniques, methods, and theory, northeastern North American archaeologists continue to use early to mid-twentieth century culture historical taxa as units of analysis and narrative. There is a distinct need to move away from this archaeological practice to enable fuller understandings of past human lives. One tool that enables such a move is Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates, which provides a means of constructing continuous chronologies. A large dataset of radiocarbon dates for late prehistoric (ca AD 900/1000–1650) sites in the lower upper Ohio River basin in southwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent portions of Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia is used here as an example. The results allow a preliminary assessment of how the settlement plans of contemporaneous villages varied considerably, reflecting decisions of the village occupants how to structure built environments to meet their needs.

Computer-aided architectural design optimization based on BIM Technology

This article addresses the problem of the non-circulation of information in each stage of architectural design. This paper explores the architectural design process based on the BIM platform and puts forward the structural design method based on the BIM platform. It carries out the seismic analysis of a high-rise building with a transfer floor structure and compares the analysis results with the structural analysis software commonly used by the current design institute. The results obtained for experimentation show that the period ratio, displacement ratio, and the first six modes calculated by the two methods in the modal analysis are consistent. The error between calculation results and PKPM calculation results is within a reasonable range. In the analysis of the mode decomposition response spectrum method, the seismic forces in X and Y directions, floor shear, overturning moment, floor average displacement, and displacement angle obtained by the two models are compared respectively. The analysis results of the two methods accord with the mechanical characteristics of the transfer floor structure, and the calculation error is within the allowable range. The structural design based on the BIM platform has the advantages of high visualization, parameter-driven component size, and high model accuracy, improving design drawing efficiency.

A Genetic Algorithm of Computer-Aided Architectural Design Based on BIM

Computer-Aided Design and Applications is an international journal on the applications of CAD and CAM. It publishes papers in the general domain of CAD plus in emerging fields like bio-CAD, nano-CAD, soft-CAD, garment-CAD, PLM, PDM, CAD data mining, CAD and the internet, CAD education, genetic algorithms and CAD engines. The journal is aimed at all developers and users of CAD technology to ptovide CAD solutions for various stages of design and manufacturing. The journal publishes all about Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided technologies.

Integrated Schematic Design Method for Shear Wall Structures: A Practical Application of Generative Adversarial Networks

The intelligent design method based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) represents an emerging structural design paradigm where design rules are not artificially defined but are directly learned from existing design data. GAN-based methods have exhibited promising potential compared to conventional methods in the schematic design phase of reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall structures. However, for the following reasons, it is challenging to apply GAN-based approaches in the industry and to integrate them into the structural design process. (1) The data form of GAN-based methods is heterogeneous from that of the widely used computer-aided design (CAD) methods, and (2) GAN-based methods have high requirements on the hardware and software environment of the user’s computer. As a result, this study proposes an integrated schematic design method for RC shear wall structures, providing a workable GAN application strategy. Specifically, (1) a preprocessing method of architectural CAD drawings is proposed to connect the GAN with the upstream architectural design; (2) a user-friendly cloud design platform is built to reduce the requirements of the user’s local computer environment; and (3) a heterogeneous data transformation method and a parametric modeling procedure are proposed to automatically establish a structural analysis model based on GAN’s design, facilitating downstream detailed design tasks. The proposed method makes it possible for the entire schematic design phase of RC shear wall structures to be intelligent and automated. A case study reveals that the proposed method has a heterogeneous data transformation accuracy of 97.3% and is capable of generating shear wall layout designs similar to the designs of a competent engineer, with 225 times higher efficiency.

Necessary advances in computer-aided design to leverage on additive manufacturing design freedom

Advances in manufacturing technologies and computational engineering are key enablers for optimized designs necessary for product performance improvements. Amongst other manufacturing technologies, particularly Additive Manufacturing (AM) is pushing the envelope of feasible design complexity challenging design engineers as well as their Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools. The research field of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) provides an exhaustive supply of specific engineering design knowledge and methodological approaches accordingly. To enable design engineers to put those approaches into practice, this research gathers and structures not yet addressed AM-related requirements on the state of the art CAD tools. Additionally, architectural CAD functions as well as features are being pointed out and envisioned design workflow adaptions introduced, necessary to enable engineers to holistically utilize AM design potentials with CAD systems of the mid-term future.

Introducing BIM in Outcome Based Curriculum in undergraduate program of architecture : Based on students perception and lecture-lab combination

The purpose of this research is to draw the necessity of Building information Modeling (BIM) technology for the undergraduate students of Architecture in Bangladesh and how and when it should be introduced in the undergraduate program according to Outcome Based Curriculum (OBC). In order to achieve this, a test was carried out among the students of the department of architecture, Stamford University Bangladesh. Finally, this research shows the importance of incorporating BIM technology in Computer Application courses along with traditional Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) and suggests to include it in 2nd year level of undergraduate program, after the students gain their basic understanding of architectural design and drafting. The research also finds that understanding level related content should be given ample priority along with hands-on practical demonstrations.

Research on Application of BIM Technology in Computer Aided Architectural Design

With the development of China's national economy and the improvement of science and technology, the design level of domestic architectural engineering has been continuously improved, especially the combination of computer-aided architectural design and BIM technology, which has been highly valued by all sectors of society. The application of BIM technology in computer aided architectural design provides an important auxiliary role for the innovation and development of the construction industry, and is another revolution in architectural design. With the popularization of Internet information technology, digital technology has become an important force to promote economic development. The birth of BIM technology provides a new impetus for the development of the construction industry. Compared with the traditional design mode, computer-aided architectural design has the advantages of more efficient, more convenient and more accurate. This paper makes a brief analysis of BIM Technology and its application advantages, expounds the application function of BIM Technology in computer-aided architectural design, aiming to improve the application level of BIM | technology and promote the effect of computer-aided architectural design.

A Subjective and Behavioral Assessment of Affordances in Virtual Architectural Walkthroughs

Immersive technologies, such as VR, offer first-person experiences using depth perception and spatial awareness that elucidate a sense of space impossible with traditional visualization techniques. This paper looks beyond the visual aspects and towards understanding the experiential aspects of two popular uses of VR in 3D architectural visualization: a “passive walkthrough” and an “interactive walkthrough”. We designed a within-subject experiment to measure the user-perceived quality for both experiences. All participants (N = 34) were exposed to both scenarios and afterwards responded to a post-experience questionnaire; meanwhile, their physical activity and simple active behaviors were also recorded. Results indicate that while the fully immersive-interactive experience rendered a heightened sense of presence in users, overt behaviors (movement and gesture) did not change for users. We discuss the potential use of subjective assessments and user behavior analysis to understand user-perceived experiential quality inside virtual environments, which should be useful in building taxonomies and designing affordances that best fit these environments.

On the Combination of Computer Aided Architectural Design and Green Building

The link of traditional architectural design is very complicated. It costs a lot of human and financial resources. The traditional architectural design drawing error is also very big. Engineers can only measure some errors with their own experience. On this basis, experts believe that computer-aided systems can help architectural design. In recent years, the pollution caused by building materials is becoming more and more serious [1]. This situation has attracted the attention of environmental protection departments. Experts put forward the theoretical research of green building. This paper briefly summarizes the characteristics of computer-aided architectural design. This paper describes the application of computer technology in green building. Finally, this paper puts forward the research on the combination of the two.

A coin hoard from Ayasuluk and the arrival of silver gigliati from Mediterranean Europe in early 14th-century western Anatolia

AbstractIn 1972 a hoard of eight fine silver coins was discovered in or near the baptistery of the basilica of St John in Ayasuluk. It is now conserved at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk. The coins were minted in southern France, southern Italy and on the island of Rhodes, between ca AD 1303 and 1319 or perhaps a little later. Accordingly, a concealment date of ca 1320 or a bit later is proposed. While the currency which they represent (the gigliato) is well known from other finds of the area, the present hoard is relatively early and from a particularly significant location. This currency found great success in commercial contexts in the eastern Aegean and western Anatolia during the period ca 1325 to ca 1370. By contrast, this study reveals two initial phases in the establishment and further dissemination of the gigliato in a concentrated part of western Anatolia, one in 1304 and another before and after ca 1317. On both occasions the Catalans were instrumental in shaping these processes: initially as conquerors on behalf of the Byzantine emperors and then, from their new base in Greece, as allies of the Aydinogullari rulers of Ayasuluk. Additionally, it is proposed that this new gigliato currency might have been minted at Rhodes from the summer of 1319, after which it rapidly reached the Ephesus area in a military context.

The Past, Present and Future of Computer-aided Design

Under the background of rapid development of digital design, this paper systematically introduces the development origin and technical strategy of computer-aided architectural design, discusses the origin of CAAD thought in depth, puts forward CAAD influence factors, and makes clear the different influence degree of CAAD strategy on architectural design process, and looks forward to the future development direction of CAAD based on this.

Virtual reality rendering methods for training deep learning, analysing landscapes, and preventing virtual reality sickness

Virtual reality (VR) has been proposed for various purposes such as design studies, presentation, simulation and communication in the field of computer-aided architectural design. This paper explores new roles for VR; in particular, we propose rendering methods that consist of post-processing rendering, segmentation rendering and shadow-casting rendering for more-versatile approaches in the use of data. We focus on the creation of a dataset of annotated images, composed of paired foreground-background and semantic-relevant images, in addition to traditional immersive rendering for training deep learning neural networks and analysing landscapes. We also develop a camera velocity rendering method using a customised segmentation rendering technique that calculates the linear and angular velocities of the virtual camera within the VR space at each frame and overlays a colour on the screen according to the velocity value. Using this velocity information, developers of VR applications can improve the animation path within the VR space and prevent VR sickness. We successfully applied the developed methods to urban design and a design project for a building complex. In conclusion, the proposed method was evaluated to be both feasible and effective.

Shortcut to the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The case of Latin America

In the fields of architecture and urban design, there has always been a delay in the impact of industrial revolution technologies, and in the case of less industrialised countries, the delay has been even bigger. This article starts with a review of the history of computer-aided architectural design in Brazil and then describes the state of the field in some Latin American countries. Finally, we discuss the ‘ideal computer curriculum’ for architects in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.